Category Archives: Business News

By Susan Elise Campbell

On Friday October 27th, The Summit celebrated the Grand Opening of its fifth and newest location offering independent living for seniors aged 55 or older. According to Jen Nelligan, director of community operations, BBL Construction broke ground just over a year ago, and while residents won’t begin to move in until the 20th of this month, occupancy is already at a pre-leasing commitment rate of 80 percent.

“We are moving in a record number of people in November,” said Nelligan. 

None had yet stepped foot into the new facility upon signing on the dotted line, but any who visited one of the other four locations would have “seen the quality of The Summit. The other buildings are models” for Halfmoon or any other location the profit-making company may construct in the future, she said. “Quality is part of our brand.”

Nelligan said the success of an independent living community is the location.

“Halfmoon is a huge and growing area with many conveniences and amenities on Route 9,” she said.

Seniors already living in the area can “maintain the familiar” and continue to go to their own bank, doctor and post office, which Nelligan said is very important to many.

Business for Good announces the hiring of Richard DeJesus, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality, and Mare Pieper, Director of Giving & Grants. 

Richard DeJesus will be responsible for steering business strategy, revenue generation and growth, and operational oversight across the portfolio of hospitality assets, including Hattie’s Restaurants in downtown Saratoga Springs,Wilton, and the soon-to-launch Albany location; Bread Basket Bakery in downtown Saratoga Springs and Bread Basket Cake Shop in Wilton; and the soon-to-be-opened Blackbirds Tavern and Blackbirds Bike Cafe in Voorheesville. His team will play an important part in supporting Business for Good’s mission of making lasting change in local communities.

DeJesus is a seasoned finance executive with a proven record of leading companies to meet and exceed their revenue and profitability goals year-over-year. He brings more than 15 years of experience in various industries, including sports and entertainment, as well as three years in Big 4 accounting. DeJesus was the Vice President of Finance at Madison Square Garden Sports, where he achieved record revenues in 2022 and 2023. Prior, he was the Senior Director of Finance at Legends, where he facilitated investments and promoted future growth. He began his career as an Accountant at Centerplate (now Sodexo Live!), with oversight on financial details for that company’s exclusive food service agreement at Yankee Stadium.

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation announced that the Carruth Foundation has pledged $35,000 to match all gifts received to the Revive 65 campaign to underwrite the rehabilitation of 65 Phila Street. This comes after the Foundation recently announced the final stretch to raise the remaining $100,000 for its campaign.

 “This is such an amazing gift! This pledge, combined with the recently received $30,000 grant from the Saratoga County Supervisors Matt Veitch and Tara Gaston, if matched, will meet our $100,000 goal in record time,” said Executive Director Samantha Bosshart,

 The long-neglected 1851 Alexander A. Patterson House located at 65 Phila Street  – important for its associations with the early development of the city, the spring waters, and the Jewish community – had been on the Foundation’s endangered list for over 20 years and threatened by demolition in 2021. In 2021, the Foundation purchased it with the intent to stabilize the Italianate building, execute environmental abatement, and complete an exterior restoration.

 “Brady and I feel very passionate about helping to maintain the history and integrity of this beautiful city. We are proud to do what we can, as well as encourage others to do so as well,” said Zane Carruth.

 After the Foundation first announced its plans to rehabilitate 65 Phila Street, the Carruth Foundation was quick to show their support with a $50,000 donation to the project. Since then, the environmental abatement and interior demolition were completed. The porch framing and portions of the exterior siding were repaired.  The original porch railings and columns, as well as the historic window sashes, were carefully restored off-site.  A new roof for the main structure has been installed. The structural stabilization and framing of the east extension was recently finished. The exterior painting in historically appropriate colors is nearly complete. 

by Ann Donnelly

New York’s State University Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Kelli Borgos-Hatin as SUNY Distinguished Professor. Dr. Borgos-Hatin has been a Business Professor at SUNY Adirondack for over 23 years, starting when the college was known as Adirondack Community College, and has taught and mentored hundreds of students during that time. While building the next generation of business leaders is a great passion, she is also a highly regarded entrepreneur. Throughout her career, Borgos-Hatin had also worked in event catering and saw frequent issues with staffing the bar, so in 2011, she founded Mixaritas, mobile bartending services, with Jenn Berry-Youngs, who had been a student in Borgos-Hatin’s Hospitality Management Classes. Since then, the business has seen great success, leading to another business opportunity for Borgos-Hatin. Many event guests asked to purchase the flavored simple syrups she uses in her cocktails. 

In 2019, Borgos-Hatin launched Mixa-Fusion, making syrups with pure cane sugar and natural ingredients with no added preservatives, powders, or extracts. In addition to the syrups, Mixa-Fusion makes and sells hot cocoa bombs in various flavors and scented hand sanitizer that they started producing when there was a significant demand early on during the pandemic.

Early in her career, Borgos-Hatin worked with two strong businesswomen from the region who she cites as role models: Maureen Monahan Chase of Monahan Chase Caterers and Catherine Fisher, who owned a Carvel Ice Cream franchise. Her parents were also significant influences: her mother, JoAnn Borgos, showed her how to manage a busy yet happy household successfully, and her father, Stephen Borgos, who was Professor of Business Emeritus at Adirondack Community College (SUNY Adirondack), working there from 1966-2001.

The Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, New York, broke ground on Circle H Lodge, a new residential lodge for camp staff and volunteers, in late September. Double H Ranch launched its public phase of a $5.5 million capital campaign project in March 2023 to support four areas of focus: the new Residential Lodge, Adaptive Playground, Outdoor Pavilion expansion, and Camp-A-Theater. Backed unanimously by its Board of Directors, the Double H Ranch has secured $5.3 million of its goal.

Dave Michaels, Chair of the Facilities Committee, stated: “It is exciting to be here today breaking ground at the new Circle H Lodge. Double H makes a profound difference in the lives of our campers year-round, and our staff team and volunteers work hard to make the program possible.  This new lodge will provide our counselors and volunteers with a place to recharge and rest, helping them to be the best they can be for our campers.  This new cabin will offer year-round housing, build program capacity, and enhance energy efficiency, and will offer common rooms for meeting and gathering.”

Charlie Crew, Board Chair, stated: “Thank you to all our donors who have collectively contributed 5.3 million towards our campaign. Double H campers look forward all year to experiencing the life changing impact of camp, and they will benefit from these capital improvements for years to come.”

This is the Ranch’s second Capital Campaign endeavor led by Lisa and Robert Moser, who launched the campaign with a $1.5 million leadership gift. “Double H Ranch wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. We are grateful for the individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations that have provided generous funding in the initial stage of our campaign. We are inspired by the progress we have made and look forward to meeting our campaign goal in 2023 with the help from our community,” state the Moser’s.

By Jill Nagy

There was such a large crowd at the October 27 opening of the AllTown Fresh market in Fort Edward,” that “it was very difficult to move,” exulted Holly Kitchen, manager of the new market. There was a state senator, two town supervisors, president of the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, the local radio station, many company officers, several chefs, and, of course, the neighbors, “a fantastic turnout,” Kitchen said.

After the ribbon-cutting, party goers sampled the food, visited a coffee trailer, played games, and toured the new shop. 

The store is located at 1401 Saratoga Road (Route 9) between South Glens Falls and Gansevoort.

AllTown features chef-run kitchens, preparing sandwiches, salads, and full meals, made with organic, locally sourced foods and ingredients. They offer vegan and gluten-free selections. The markets are open around the clock, with the kitchen open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Available beverages include beer as well as coffee and soft drinks. There is free wifi on the premises and outdoor patio seating. Another big draw, according to Kitchen, is “fantastic gas prices.”  .

This is the third AllTown Fresh market in the area, the 16th overall for the parent company, Massachusetts-based Great Global Village. The first capital region outlet opened in Schenectady three years ago. The company’s first market opened in Plymouth MA five years ago. 

The general contractor for this AllTown, and well as the other two local AllTown Fresh outlets, was Schaghticote-based F.H.Alexander Inc. 

By Paul Post

 Common Roots Brewing Company, best-known for its popular craft beer and ale, now helps people start their day right by serving up fresh coffee, roasted on site, and a selection of  tasty breakfast sandwiches.
The Café, open 7 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, is located in the firm’s spacious new multi-purpose building, which Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado christened during recent ribbon cutting ceremonies.

 “We started roasting our own coffee because it’s an important ingredient for some of our beers like our Coffee Cup stout,” said Bert Weber, who co-owns Common Roots with his son, Christian. “It became kind of a progression after that. While we’re making coffee we thought it might be a nice way to introduce the public to this space. So we have a lot of people coming in now for coffee and an egg sandwich or breakfast burrito. It’s exposing the space to people who might see it as a nice place to have a celebration or party.”

 The new building, called Bierhall & Barrel House, is on the south side of Common Roots’ restaurant and brewery, at 58 Saratoga Avenue in South Glens Falls.

 The $3.6 million structure, aided by $450,000 in state economic development funding, can accommodate up to 200 people and has already hosted a wedding and a travel program about a local adventurer’s trek to the Himalayas in Nepal.

By Ann Donnelly

Chef Christian Raeth, originally from Erlangen in the Bavarian region of Germany, is looking forward to the opening of his new restaurant, Spargel on Nine, later this month. As the name suggests, the restaurant is located at 925 Route 9 in Queensbury, in the former location of Outback Steakhouse and, more recently, 40 Oak.

“While this is my first time owning a restaurant,” says Raeth, “The vision of what we are trying to accomplish has been clear to me for decades. It has always been my dream.

Raeth started his culinary training with an aprenticeship in his native Germany in 1984 and has worked in some of the top restaurants in Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland. In 1991, Raeth came to the USA, where his sister had relocated, and found a position at the Albany Country Club, where he worked for four years until he returned to Germany.  

After his father died in 2000, Raeth returned to New York State to stay. He worked in fine dining in country clubs and restaurants like Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park, Fort William Henry in Lake George, and Pumpernickle’s in Bolton Landing. For the last 13 years, Raeth spent most of his time out of the kitchen, working in sales for Sysco, the world’s largest wholesale food distributor.

Saratoga County has partnered with Discover Saratoga (Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau), a prominent player in the tourism industry, in a collaboration that officials hope will redefine the travel experience for visitors and locals alike in Saratoga County.

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution naming Discover Saratoga as the county’s official tourism promotion agency at its September meeting. 

Discover Saratoga will assume the duties for the county beginning Jan. 1.

The resolution also authorizes Discover Saratoga to register as the county’s tourism promotion agency with the Empire State Development Corp. and apply for an I Love New York grant for 2024.

“The partnership between Saratoga County and Discover Saratoga aims to enhance the overall tourism ecosystem in the county. With a shared commitment to promoting the unique cultural, historical, and natural attractions of Saratoga County, this collaboration will bring about a wealth of benefits for tourists and the local community,” said a statement from the county board.